Process of tanning fur



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PROCESS OF TANNING FUR.

No Drawing.

1 0' aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS OMER l-VIL- LIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pasadena, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Processes of Tanning Furs, of which the following is a specification.

T his invention relates to a process of tanning furs, and its object is to provide a process of treatment which is of great advantage and efiiciency in tanning all furs, but especially in tanning the delicate skins of small animals, such as rabbits, squirrels, etc., which are difficult to handle and very easily torn or otherwise damaged under ordinary tanning methods.

In carrying my invention into practice, the hide is first placed in brine for a period of about ten hours, as in ordinary processes, then rinsed in clear water, and then washed in a soap or other cleansing solution con taining little or no lye. The hide is then hung out to dry, f-ur side out, until the fur is thoroughly dry, after which the hide is reversed or turned skin side out and allowed to hang until the skin side isabout half dry, whereupon the hide is pelted in the regular manner.

After the foregoing preliminary treatment the hide is tacked on a board, skin side out, to stretch and shape it, and is left until thoroughly dry. lVhe-n dry the skin side of the hide is rubbed with a brush which has been moistened with extract of poke root,

diluted, in proportion of one teaspoonful to a glass (one-half pint) of water. One application of the poke root by brushing until the hide is thoroughly moistened is sutlicient. This solution acts as a preservative and also materially toughens the hide,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 17, 1918.

Patented Oct. 12, 1920.

Serial No. 258,595.

thus allowing it to be manipulated without liability of being torn or otherwise injured or requiring extreme delicacy in handling the hide to prevent tearing. When the fur is almost dry kerosene, in small quantity,-

is applied to the skin side with a brush and rubbed in thoroughly. This serves to neutralize any tendency of the poke root to excessively toughen or harden the skin, and leaves the skin soft and pliant. The hide is then allowed to thoroughly dry, after which it is washed a desired number of times in gasolene to remove all substances previously used in the process and also to remove all glue and other animal matter from the hide. The essential feature of this process resides in the steps, between initial cleansing and washing, of treating the hide as described with poke root and kerosene, whereby toughness, fineness of texture and appearance and durability are secured, allowing the hide to be tanned in a superior manner without liability of tearing or otherwise injuring the hide.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim:

The process of tanning furs, which consists in first brushing the skin side of the preliminarily cleansed fur with diluted extract of poke root until the hide is thoroughly moistened, then, after the skin has dried to a large degree but is still slightly moist, applying kerosene to the skin side to neu tralize the toughening action of the poke root and render the skin soft and pliable,

and then drying the skin, and then washin the skin in a solvent to remove all foreign substances, glue and animal matter.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

THOMAS OMER WILLIAMS. 

